Plunger-type fountain pen



Oct. 23, 1951 E. HARBISON PLUNGER-TYPE FOUNTAIN PEN 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 6, 1947 Patented Oct. 23, 1951 I omen-"i v a PATENT l Lavvrence-E Harbison, Berkeley, Calif. v

Appi atiiintf yjc; 1947; Serial No. 746,373-

2 Claims. (01. 120-47) This invention relates to fountain pens,-'and more particularly to an improved construction of sacless or plunger type, fountain pens.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a plunger-type pen','wherein the operating means for the piston or plunger com prises a plurality of telescoping parts'which in the retracted position of the piston, will occupy a minimum of space. Another object of this inventionisto provide a plunger-type fountain pen wherein slightmotion of the push-button will be multiplied in moving the filling plunger.

Other objects will appear to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification. i

The accompanying drawings illustrate a:pre ferred embodiment of the invention, but'it is understood that modifications may be, made therein without departing from the spirit'ofthe invention as hereinafter claimed. Figure 1 represents an elevation of the ,filling mechanism as applied to the barrel'oi afountain pen, the mechanism being shown in retracted or inoperative position. v l. 1 Figure 2 shows the same mechanism in extended position, with the push-button pushedin to empty the pen. T" Figure 3 is a horizontal section-taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section line 5--5 of Figure 2. Figures 6, 7, and 8 are detailed elevations of portions of the filling mechanism. 7 The filling mechanism forming the subject matter of this invention is adaptedlto be inserted within the barrel of a fountain pen. H

The filling mechanism comprises a push-button 6 that is accessiblefrom the.end of the pen and that is operable to empty and fill the pen. Fixed to the underside of the push-button 6.:is a push-rod I 0, and fixed to the bottom of the push-rod I is a hollow sleeve H. Tel'escopically' positioned within the hollow sleeve 1 I'is another sleeve l2, and within the hollow sleevelz is still another hollow sleeve l3. 1 Y Surrounding the push-rod |0" 'and secured against longitudinal movementis ahollowsleeve l4, of a larger diameter than the sleeve l I? Cut side the hollow sleeve is another sleeve 3 l; and outside the sleeve I5 is still another hollow sleeve l6. 1 A piston rod 20 is adapted to slidewithin the taken the taken on innermost sleeve l3. A piston 2| is attached to the bottom of the piston rod 20, and is operable to empty and fill the pen.

The motion of the push-rod" I0 is communi-' cated to'the piston rod 20 in such away that a very slight movement of the push-rod I will be magnified in the movement of the piston rod 20. A collar 3|, attachable to or forming part of thefountain pen at the top thereoffprov'ides a guideway and a stop for the push-button 6 and the push-rod I 0; The push-rod l0, illustrated as being hexagonal in cross section, is adapted to slide axially of the pen, but notto"frotate'l Of course, the sleeve H, which is attached to the push-rod ID, will also slide. The'sleeve II is provided with a series of helical slots 4| which are twisted at least fifty degrees withrespect to the horizontal. 1 The upper end'of the 'sleeve|4 is supported by a horizontal flange 44 fixed to the collar 3|, so that thesleeve' 14 may rotate, but'not inove longitudinally. The lower end ofthe sleeve [4 is'provided with a diametral pin 45, which "en-1 gages the helical groove 4| in thesleevel II It will be obvious, therefore, that as the push -rod lllis'depressed, thesleevell will travel down wardly without rotation,andth'at thesleeve" l4 will rotate withoutsliding. 1 The sleeves l5 and I6 are slidable with respect to each otherand with respect to the sleeve 14. For this purpose, the s1eevesl4, 15' and 'lli are made hexagonal in shape, as shown most clearly in Figure 4. The sleeves l4, l5'andl6 are adapted to nest within one another, so that all three may rotate together. The push-rod I0 is also hexagonal, and the opening in the collar 3| is shaped in conformity therewith, so that the push-rod l 0 is kept from rotation.

The inner sleeves ll, I2 and as is also the pistonrod 2Q. H As hereinbefore mentioned, the hexagonal sleeve l4 cannot slide, but is permitted to rotate on the flange 44. When the push-rod III is depressed, carrying w ith it the inner circular sleeve II, the pin 45 on the sleeve l4 rides in the helical grooves 4| of the inner sleeve ll, so that "the" sleeve l4 isforced to rotate. As a result,"the sleeve [5 nested about the sleeve l4 willfrotate with it, and the outermost hexagonal sleeve l5 that is nested'aboutjth'e' sleeve 1 5 willalso rotate." I As'the push-rod llland its attached sleeve H are depressed,"theouterlsleeves I5 and IE will also be depressed. 1 'Ihe' sle'ev'e l4,"of"course,wil1-not slide longil3 are circular,

tudinally. At the same time, all three outer sleeves l4, l and [6 are rotating. The outermost sleeve l6 has a lower portion 48 that is secured to the sleeve l2, so that as the sleeve I6 is rotated on the sleeves l4 and |5, it will carry with it in rotation the sleeve I2.

The cylindrical surface of the sleeve I2 is provided with a helical slot or groove 58, the twist of the groove 50 being less than forty degrees. This groove 50 runs in a direction opposite to that of the helical groove 4| in the sleeve The bottom of the sleeve II is provided with a radial pin 52 that is adapted to ride in the helical' groove 50 of the sleeve l2, so that as the sleeve 3 4 2| will have the elliptical shape alluded to, to prevent rotation of the piston 2| and the piston rod 20. That portion of the barrel 5 above the ridge 80 may be made elliptical or circular, but in any event there must be no interference with the rotation of the hexagonal sleeves l4, I5 and N5 in any portion of the barrel.

The cylindrical surface 85 of the collar 3| may be threaded to receive a cap for the purpose of protecting the push-button B.

In the operation of the device, the push-button 6. is depressed, and the downward motion of the push-rod I0 is communicated to a much greater degree'to the'piston rod 2|), both of the rods moving axially of the barrel 5 of the fountain pen. 'The cup leathers l0 and H will rub against 50 of the sleeve |2 to unscrew the latter sleeve |2 from the sleeve its top to the top of the sleeve l2, Figure 2. The sleeve I3 is carried: bodily by the sleeve I2 and turns and moves axially-with the sleeve I2. This sleeve |3 is also provided with a helical slot or groove 55, and the upper portion of piston rod is provided with a radial pin 56 adapted to ride in the groove 55 from within the innermost sleeve 13. The twist of the groove 55 in the innermost sleeve I3 is approximately thirty-five degrees or less.

The elliptical piston 2| prevents the rod 20 from. rotating at all times. As the inner sleeve I3 rotates and descends longitudinally with the sleeve 12, the coaction of the pin 55 in the spiral groove 55 will cause the rod 20 and piston 2| to be moved further longitudinally downwardly. The groove 55 in the sleeve I3 is also in the same direction as the groove 4| in the sleeve so that the net result of the extension of the various members will be a travel of the piston rod 2- to- 'a much greater extent than that of the-push-rod i0.

- A coil spring-5B has one end anchored to the collar- 3| by'means of a set-screw 6|, and the lower end of: the spring 60 is secured to the hexagonal sleeve |5 by means of another setscrew 62. Pressure of the push-button 8 will be asserted against the force of the spring 60, and after pressure'is released from the pushbutton 6 the spring 65 will retract all the members to their inoperative positions. V

The piston 2| is screw-threaded to the bottom end of the piston rod 20, and comprises two cup leathers l0 andv 1|, between the twocup leathers 19 and H is positioned a thin strong disc 12, preferably of metaL. Above theupper cup leather I0 is a rubber washer 1-3 having an upstanding flange M. The barrel 5 of the-fountain pen is provided with a circular ridge 8B hav-: ing a downwardly extending flange 8 I The ridge 80 is so positioned in the barrel 5 of the fountain pen that in the retracted position of.,the plunger mechanism the piston 2| 'will. abut the lower surface of the ridge in such a manner that the flange-l4 of the rubber washer 13 will mesh with the flange 8| of the ridge 8|] to form a tight seal,wthereby preventing passage of ink above the ridge Bil-.1 T :-..=;The disc 12 is made elliptical, and the cooperating surface of 'the barrel 5 is also made elliptical; tovprevent rotation of the piston 2| and the piston rod 28 in the barrel 5. If desired, the cup-= leathers i8 and H" may also be made elliptical. It will be apparent/that portion ofthe barrel between the ridge B0 and the reservoir of ink. below the lowermost. position of the piston the inside of, the barrel 5, and the piston 2| will empty the ink from the pen. If there is no ink left in the pen, the air, will be expelled. When pressure on the push-button 6 is released, the spring 6|] will promptly retract all the sleeves and move the piston 2| upwardly, creating a 'suc tion very rapidly and filling the pen with ink from the reservoir. The upward movement of the piston 2| will be stopped by the circular ridge 80, as the rubber washer I3 will'be pressed againstthe ri'dge and also against the walls of the barrel 5 to doubly seal the pen against leakage.

The angular pitch'of the grooves in the sleeves will be one of the factors determining the multiplic'ation'of the movement of the piston rod 20 with respect to the push-rod l0.

What is claimed is:

1. In a plunger-type fountain pen, an outer barrel constituting an ink reservoir and havingfa non-circular'bore, a non-circular piston mounted within the barrel for reciprocation, a rod secured to the piston and having a radial projection, an innermost sleeve slidably receiving the rod and =l'iaving' a spiral groove to receive the radial projection of the rod, a second sleeve surrounding'theinnermost sleeve and secured to the innermost sleeve to move axially and to rotate with the innermost sleeve as a unit, the second sleeve having a spiral groove formed therein, an outermost sleeve slidabl receiving the second sleeve and having a radial projection engaging within the spiral groove of the second sleeve, the outermost sleeve having a spiral groove formed therein, a first polygonal tube rotatably mounted within said barrel and receiving the outermost sleeve, a radial projection carried by said tube and engaging in' the spiral groove of the'outermost sleeve, a second polygonal tube surrounding said first tube and all of said sleeves and adapted to turn with said first tube and to move-longitudinally thereof, a third polygonal tube surrounding said second tube and arranged adjacent tothe innermost and second sleeves and having'one end secured to an end of the second sleeve, the third tube'being rotatable with the first and second tubes and shiftable longitudinallywith respect thereto, a push rod secured to one 'end'of' the outermost sleeve 'andextending, through the first tube and beyond one end of the first tube and being longitudinally shiftable and held against rotation, whereby longi tudinal movement of the push rodwill impart exaggerated longitudinal movement to the piston: and-a springconnecting' the push rod and-barrel and serving to-hold the push rod. in a retracted position. i r

2. In a plunger-type fountain pen, an outer barrel constitut,ing an ink reservoir and having a non-circular bore, a non-circular piston mounted within the barrel for reciprocation and held against rotation, a rod secured to the piston and having a. radial pin, an innermost sleeve slidably receiving the rod and having a spiral groove to receive the radial pin 0! the rod, a second sleeve surrounding the innermost sleeve and extending for substantially the entire length of the innermost sleeve and secured thereto to move axially and to rotate with the innermost sleeve as a unit, the second sleeve having a spiral groove formed therein, an outermost sleeve slidably receiving the second sleeve and having a radial pin engaging in the spiral groove of the second sleeve, the outermost sleeve having a spiral groove formed therein, a first polygonal tube rotatably mounted within the barrel and held against longitudinal movement therein, the first polygonal tube receiving thereinthe outermost sleeve and having a radial pin engaging in the spiral groove of the outermost sleeve, a second polygonal tube surrounding the first polygonal tube and all of said sleeves and adapted to turn with the first polygonal tube and to move longitudinally thereof, a third polygonal tube surrounding the second polygonal tube and arranged adjacent to the innermost and second sleeves and having one end secured to an end of the second sleeve, the third polygonal tube being rotatable with the first and second polygonal tubes and shiftable longitudinally with respect thereto, the polygonal tubes being telescopically nested about all of saidfsleeves. said sleeves being telescopically arranged, a push rod secured to one end of the outermost sleeve and extending through the first polygonal tube and being longitudinally shiftable therein but held against rotation, and a spring connected with the barrel and with one of said polygonal tubes and serving to bias the tubs,' sleeves, piston and push rod in retracted positions.

LAWRENCE E. HARBISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file 01 this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

